The CWGC is inviting members of the public to attend a very special Service of Thanksgiving celebrating the centenary of our unique organisation.

A limited number of tickets will be made available via a public ballot for the service at Westminster Abbey on Tuesday 23 May 2017.

The Thanksgiving Service is designed to be non-denominational, reflecting the cultures of the CWGC’s six partner nations, and all of the countries where it operates.

It will involve a band and an orchestra, the Westminster Abbey choir, a Maori choir, floral display, readings and hymns, as well as the dedication of a the new volume of the Civilian War Dead Roll of Honour 1939 – 1945.

Anyone wishing to apply for a pair of tickets can do so by emailing their name and address to AbbeyTicketsBallot@cwgc.org using the subject line PUBLIC BALLOT.

One entry per email, per pair of tickets. For terms and conditions, see below.

On the day, doors will open at 10.30am, with the service commencing at noon and concluding at 1pm.

The closing date for the ballot is 10am on 9 May 2017. Successful entrants will be notified first by email and will then receive a letter with their tickets.

Terms and Conditions for Westminster Abbey Service Public Ballot

Prize: Winning applicants will receive a pair of tickets permitting attendance at a service of thanksgiving to celebrate the Centenary of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Service to be held on Tuesday 23 May 2017 at 12.00 in Westminster Abbey, London. Doors open at 10.30. All attendees must be seated by 11.30. Service concludes at 13.00.

All guests must be aged 18+

Admittance to the service is strictly for named ticket holders only. Full contact details of guests must be provided at time of entering the ballot.

One entry per household only.

All guests must provide photo identification on entry to the Abbey. Valid passport or driving licence accepted as proof of identification.

No baggage, videos or cameras are allowed in the Abbey. There may be airport security-style screening for all guests so please allow adequate time for this at the entrance to the Abbey.

Dress code: Formal - Suits or day dress/trouser suit for ladies.

Successful applicants are solely responsible for all transport to and from the service.

Ballot will be drawn at random at 10.00 on 9 May 2017. Winning applicants will be informed by email and tickets sent to address provided in advance of the service. A letter with administrative points will be included with the tickets.

CWGC will not be liable for any loss in the event the service is cancelled or delayed.

Disabled access: Please note there is extremely limited disabled parking at the venue.

Tickets have no monetary value and are non-transferable.

CWGC reserves the right to refuse entry at its sole discretion.

CWGC decision on any matter relating to the ballot is final. No correspondence will be entered into.

There are only days left to apply to join the Commission’s Centenary Interns Programme in 2018. If you are aged 18 or over and are thinking about applying, find out how the first wave of interns benefited from the experience in the video below.

Nearly half a million people visited the CWGC Plymouth Naval Memorial to view the iconic sculpture Poppies: Wave, as it was fixed to a monument dedicated to remembering the war dead of the two world wars for the first time. Many visitors left special messages on the Commission’s Time To Remember wall. Here is a selection of the moving posts.